Functional medicine is an individualized and tailored approach that addresses the underlying causes of disease using a systems-oriented approach to engage both patient and practitioner through a therapeutic partnership. It uses lifestyle interventions and dietary supplementation to address the causes of a person's symptoms. Functional Medicine shift away from the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach that address the root causes rather than merely treating symptoms.

Historically, the Ketogenic Diet was first used to control epilepsy in children. How the ketogenic diet works is still being investigated. Research indicates that it may change the way cells function (enhance mitochondrial respiration, promote neuronal long-term potentiation, increase BDNF expression, increase GPR signaling, attenuate oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and alter protein post-translational modifications via lysine acetylation and β-hydroxybutyrylation) and the way the body responds downstream from the cell signals (Akt, PLCγ, CREB, Sirtuin, and mTORC pathways). (1)

A 2017 review summarized available scientific research investigating the ketogenic diet's affect on cancer. The majority (72%) of the 29 available animal studies showed evidence of an anti-tumor effect. The 24 human studies showed possible anti-tumor effects in some individual cases without any evidence of pro-tumor effects.(2)